Kansas basketball bracketology: Jayhawks projections for March Madness, NCAA tournament

LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball won’t be carrying a Big 12 Conference trophy into the NCAA tournament this year, but soon it’ll learn what path it’ll need to take to earn one during March Madness.

The Jayhawks (21-12) wrapped up their Big 12 tournament stay with a loss in the quarterfinals against Arizona, which would go on to lose in the final against Houston. Their regular season sported a quality non-conference slate, before inconsistent efforts during the league slate saw them drop out of contention for a Big 12 regular season crown. Considering they entered the year as the preseason No. 1 team in the nation, there’s a lot for them to prove in the days ahead as they attempt to realize that potential.

So, as Selection Sunday opens and the release of the NCAA tournament bracket nears, what are some of the latest projections saying about where Kansas will end up? Are the Jayhawks going to have one of the tougher, or easier, roads to a Sweet 16? Is it possible coach Bill Self and company would have to beat one of the No. 1 seeds in the round of 32 to advance that far?

Here are a few projections:

ESPN — No. 7 seed

This projection from Saturday night would place Kansas, a No. 7 seed, against No. 10-seed Utah State in the Jayhawks’ first game of the tournament. Win, and Kansas would go up against either No. 2-seed Alabama or No. 15-seed Bryant. Should it be a game against Alabama, it would be a reunion of sorts for Jayhawks guard Rylan Griffen, who transferred from Alabama to join Kansas during the most recent offseason.

USA TODAY — No. 7 seed

This projection from Friday morning predicts a round of 64 game against a former Big 12 program, No. 10-seed Oklahoma, which is now in the Southeastern Conference. Neither Oklahoma, nor potential round of 32 opponent No. 2-seed Tennessee, would be unfamiliar to the No. 7-seed Jayhawks. Of course, the potential remains that if KU beats Oklahoma it could face No. 15-seed Robert Morris in the next round, too.

CBS Sports — No. 6 seed

This projection from Saturday morning sees Kansas a bit better, as a No. 6 seed, and therefore would see the Jayhawks go up against a No. 11 seed in VCU. That puts KU in contention to face either No. 3-seed Maryland or No. 14-seed UNCW in the round of 32, should Self’s squad advance past the round of 64. Of the projections in this list, this might be the most favorable path to another Sweet 16 appearance for Kansas.

Kansas basketball forward KJ Adams (24) reacts to a play during the second half of a March 13, 2025 game against Arizona at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball bracketology: Projections for March Madness in 2025

Topics

Kansas basketball bracketology: Projections for Jayhawks in March Madness, NCAA tournament

Kansas basketball saw its Big 12 tournament run end in the quarterfinals. Now, looking ahead to the NCAA tournament, what do its chances look like?
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Where Louisville basketball’s 2025 NCAA Tournament resume stands for March Madness

Here’s where Louisville basketball bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
Where Duke basketball’s NCAA Tournament resume stands as March Madness arrives

Duke basketball will be among the top seeds in March Madness. Here’s where the Blue Devils’ 2025 NCAA Tournament resume stands on Selection Sunday.
Yahoo Sports - 2h
Where UNC basketball’s NCAA Tournament resume stands as March Madness arrives

UNC basketball is set to learn its March Madness fate. Here’s where the Tar Heels’ 2025 NCAA Tournament resume stands on Selection Sunday.
Yahoo Sports - 2h
Where Indiana basketball stands in March Madness bracket projections

Where Indiana Hoosiers basketball March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 5h
Where Iowa State basketball stands in latest March Madness bracket predictions

Latest bracketology projections for Iowa State heading into Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 3h
Where Auburn basketball stands in March Madness bracket: 2025 NCAA Tournament update

Here's where Auburn basketball's March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday.
Yahoo Sports - 3h
Where Alabama basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Where Alabama basketball March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
Where St. John's basketball stands in March Madness bracket: 2025 NCAA Tournament resume

Where St. John's Red Storm March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday as 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.
Yahoo Sports - 5h

Kansas basketball bracketology: Jayhawks projections for March Madness, NCAA tournament

ESPN — No. 7 seed

USA TODAY — No. 7 seed

CBS Sports — No. 6 seed

Topics

Related

Kansas basketball bracketology: Projections for Jayhawks in March Madness, NCAA tournament

Where Louisville basketball’s 2025 NCAA Tournament resume stands for March Madness

Where Duke basketball’s NCAA Tournament resume stands as March Madness arrives

Where UNC basketball’s NCAA Tournament resume stands as March Madness arrives

Where Indiana basketball stands in March Madness bracket projections

Where Iowa State basketball stands in latest March Madness bracket predictions

Where Auburn basketball stands in March Madness bracket: 2025 NCAA Tournament update

Where Alabama basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Where St. John's basketball stands in March Madness bracket: 2025 NCAA Tournament resume

More from Yahoo Sports

MSU lands in tough region in final ESPN bracketology update

Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE: Team news and line-ups with Cole Palmer ruled out for Blues

2025 Salary cap hits for Indianapolis Colts 10 free agent signings

Loyola cruises to Class B state title

Gallatin girls claim first AA championship

More in Sports

Bracketology: Florida vs. Tennessee showdown for SEC title will also be for a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

San Diego Wave FC's rebuild in full effect: How NWSL side adjusts without Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma

MSU lands in tough region in final ESPN bracketology update

2025 Salary cap hits for Indianapolis Colts 10 free agent signings

College basketball winners, losers entering Selection Sunday: Spartans slip, bubble teams avoid some disaster